Direction indicator



June 14, 1927;

A. DURCHIN DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Sept. 22. 1921 TITLE...

lllEl INVENTOR ind/"0 Dara/2m ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1927.

UNETED STATES ANDBO DURCHIN, 0F KELAYRES, PENNSYLVANIA.

DIRE CTION INDICATOR.

Application filed September 22, 1921.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in direction indicators adapted for use on motor vehicles and the like to indlcate to anyone following the vehicle the intention of the operator.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an electrically operated indicating means arranged at the rear end of the vehicle and controlled from a point in close proximity to the drivers seat, so that said indicating means may be readily actuated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be as readily seen at night as in the daytime, so that danger of rear end collisions may at all times be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electro-magnetically operated semaphore arm, combined with electric lamp bulbs arranged so that the whole may be enclosed in a single housing which may be mounted as a unit on the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a resilient means for normally holding the semaphore arm in vertical position and prevent the exposure of the words Right 1 and Left, so as to avoid any possibility of confusing the signals. With these and other objects in view which will be fully set forth. in the following specification, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and ar rangement of parts which will be set forth in the annexed specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is'a view of this device in use,

Figure 2 is a rear face view of the device,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the cover plate removed,

Figure 4-. is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4.-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a view showing the diagram of the device,

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 10, designates the housing of the device which. is provided with a removable cover plate 1i having the light openings '12, '13, and 14 arranged therein. Openings 15, 1.6, and .17 are formed in the cover plate through which the words Right, and Left are visible according to the position of'the semaphore arm. As shown the casing is slotted to permit the free end of said arm to project outwardly and both the back wall of the casing and wiring Serial No. 502,394.

the cover plate are provided with bearing members 18 in which the spindle 19 is jonrnalled.

Secured adjacent the forward end of the spindle 19 and extending at right angles thereto, is the semaphore arm 20 formed from a flat transparent plate, the outer end of which projects through the slot in the casing and is enlarged as at 21 to provide a readily visible portion upon which the word ook or some similar designation may be displayed. The arm 20 is provided adjacent its outer end with an opening 22 which is adapted to register with the openings 12, 13, and 14, depending upon which position the arm is in. It will also be apparent that the words Right, and Left, will be rendered visible when their respective lights are lighted.

In order to control the various moveients of the arm 20, solenoids 23 and 24: are provided having the sliding cores 25 which are normally forced inwardly by means of springs 26. The outer ends of these cores are enlarged to provide rack bars 27 which engage pinions 28 secured to the spindle. It will thus be seen that when the solenoid 23 is energized, the semaphore arm will be swung downwardly into the position indicating that the operator intends turning to the left and at the same time the word Left carried by the semis phore arm will become visible through the opening 16 in the cover plate of the housing. Upon. energizing the opposite solenoid, it'will be evident that the arm will move into the opposite indicating position and the word 6 in. the cover plate 1.1. Figure 2, the openings 1.2, 13, and 1.4;, are provided with covers of glass or similar transparent material and are preferably colored. as indicated in the drawings, so that when the lamp bulb to the left is illuminated it will show red, while the opposit-e light will show green upon illumination and the upper glass is clear. A separate illuminating device such as lamp bulbs 29 is provided for each opening 12, 13, and 14 As illustrated in and each bulb is controlled by an individual switch mounted on a switch-board on the dash-board of the car. It is to be understood that this switch-board is to be within easy reach of the vehicle operator and carries the switches 30 for controlling the energization of the solenoids. While the device is shown will appear in the opening 17 i Ill) ' over the other,

position of the ar1n,and means as being); provided with an individual power source, it inay he eonnected with the starting and lighting system usually placed on modern cars.

hat I claim and desire to secure-by Let-' ters Patent is 1. The combination of a slotted housing provided with a piuralityrof openings,. with a semaphore arin hearing dilterent signalling indioia arranged in parallel rows one said openings being arranged signals upon reversal ot for operating to show different having an aperture at the said arm to assume right and left hand horizontal positions.

2. The combination of a slotted housing right and left hand with a semaphore arm of side of its face,

an enlarged portion transparent material,

on said arni extended through the slot in,

said housing, and 111QL\11S for reversing the horizontal position of said arm to assume certain selected positionz-i,

In Witness whereof lath): my signature.

mono DURC'HIN. 

